Fermata Direct Primary Care

09/12/2025

Last Night, I Spoke with the Government

About a week ago, a few of my fellow DPC physicians and I were made aware of the government’s initiative to fund programs addressing healthcare delivery problems in rural America, aptly called Rural Health Transformation Program. In line with this, our state’s Secretary of Health and Human Services is conducting several listening sessions throughout the state of VA for the month of September. Last night, the 3 of us attended one of these sessions right here in Harrisonburg. We took the opportunity to be heard alongside local healthcare system executives, organization heads, and community leaders. Three of us -- boots-on-the-ground primary care physicians taking care of families and individuals in the community, were heard. Three of us (dare I say it) friends, accompanied each other to represent not only Direct Primary Care as a movement, but also represent physicians as important stakeholders in our healthcare system. This is us shortly after that meeting for a quick debrief at Bella Luna Woodfired Pizza.

America’s healthcare system is ill, and it will take the efforts of not just our leaders, but of each member of our system at every level, to help it get better. Countries with the best health outcomes worldwide are those who’ve adequately invested in addressing social determinants of health (i.e. education, employment, housing, access to transportation and communication amenities, etc.), and in propping up a robust primary care system with adequately trained physicians. These were common themes in last night’s conversation, and we as DPC physicians are doing our part to provide high quality healthcare to our patients in the Shenandoah Valley. I am proud to be part of this movement.

From Left to Right: Dr. Kim Wyrick of Orchid Family Medicine, myself, and Dr. Arlene McCain of McCain Whole Health Care

11/08/2024

Just got recertified in BLS together with the team at McCain Whole Health Care, PLC. Here’s me and Lucy (their most energetic team member!) staring at the baby manequin. This picture’s practically begging for thought bubbles or a caption at the very least, so feel free to drop one in the comments. Happy Friday!!!

05/09/2023

Three groups of people have taught me the practice of medicine:

1. Patients
2. Doctors
3. NURSES

Happy nurses’ week to all you awesome nurses out there! Thank you for all you do!😊✌️❤️

04/16/2023

PSA: nose rings and rough pets are a potential hazard and not a good mix!!! I had to stitch up an unfortunate accident caused by a beloved animal 🙁 (I decided against posting a picture of the wound...but y'all can use your imagination). If you can't avoid having furry friends, you may want to reconsider facial piercing choices (perhaps a stud vs a ring?).

Anyway, they're better now and happily got the care they needed at the office IMMEDIATELY 🙂 Wishing everybody a safe and happy week! ✌️❤️

03/30/2023

Happy National Doctor's Day to all my colleagues in this noble profession, where we bravely set out everyday to battle the formidable threats of Google search results 😂

Seriously though, kudos to all the doctors out there still trying to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients. We may not change the world, but our care may mean a world of change to that one patient in our office. ✌️❤️

02/14/2023

Before the new year came in, one of my patients started experiencing symptoms concerning for heart disease. One visit led to a number of tests and specialist consults, and to cut the long story short, he now has 2 stents and a new valve at over 80 yo. I saw him for a follow up today together with his wife. He’s back to walking around the neighborhood, and though he certainly feels better, he admits to feeling traumatized by the whole experience of being in a hospital, which in his case had some notable complications along the way. He’s now wearing a cardiac monitor for a couple of weeks, and we’re both praying for the worst of it to be done by now. At the end of the visit, they gave me a rose as a small token of gratitude for simply being present with them and praying with them throughout their journey the past couple of months. Needless to say, I’m not the cardiologist who put in his stents and his new valve, and they were so effusively thankful for him as well. All I did was listen and pointed them in the right direction. “For his new heart,” his wife said. And then mine just started melting, 😂 Happy hearts day everyone!!!

01/12/2023

HEALTHCARE ANXIETY. Most (if not all) of us have it. We see a doctor typically for something that needs attention, and it's not exactly a stroll in the park. We feel a little off, a bit anxious, and for some, even flat out scared to go to the doctor.

One of my younger patients always had it as far as he can tell, and his blood pressure was one of the telltale signs of this internal state. He learned earlier than most how to check his blood pressure at home, as his numbers were always high in clinical settings but normal at home (which I confirmed on his very first visit with me). On the other hand, he said today was the first time he ever went to the doctor's office without feeling any of this AT ALL. Yes, we've addressed some of his health concerns over the past couple of months, but even if not everything is ironed out at this stage, he knows I'm there to help him out not just as his , but as his partner too. In fact, he says he's even felt less anxious in other clinical settings outside of my office since he started coming to see me.

The opportunity we receive as clinicians to help mold a person's perspective on their health (and even healthcare as a whole) is such a privilege. So for today, I told him that his lack of anxiety coming to my office was our biggest WIN. Oh....and his blood pressure when I checked it? Completely normal 🙂

12/19/2022

Hi friends! Just wanted to share my delight as I learned that our podcast was recognized by Speak Up Talk Radio and granted the Positive Change Award!!! In case you missed it back in the spring, we launched and released Physicians Heal, a podcast focused on physician burnout and recovering the intersection between spirituality and medicine. If this interests you, pls check it out on Spotify, Google, or Apple podcasts 😁 Happy Monday!!!

10/18/2022

THREE (3) FREE TICKETS!!!

Friends! I'm honored and excited to be be one of the guest speakers for McCain Whole Health Care's Wellness Workshop scheduled on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 at JMU Festival Center. I'll be speaking on the cornerstone of and what makes it successful -- an authentic RELATIONSHIP between doctor and patient. So...if you're interested and available, I have 3 FREE TICKETS to give away! This includes light breakfast, snacks, and lunch 😊 First come first serve, and deadline is on Friday, 10/21. If you're a patient of the practice, shoot me a text! Otherwise, SEND ME A PRIVATE MESSAGE here on FB ✌️❤️

(note: this event is a fundraiser for Dancing With The Stars of The 'Burg, benefitting the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Child Day Care Center 🙂)

RSVP by Friday, 10/21, for MWHC's Wellness Workshop on 11/4/22! 💗

(Text 540-416-9656, or email drmccain@mccainwhc.com)

Every $100 donation to Team McCain (whsv.com/dance) = 1 ticket.

Of note, if you donate $150, you gain 1 raffle ticket towards a one-year free membership to McCain Whole Health Care!!

10/15/2022

Come and drop by Grilled Cheese Mania in Harrisonburg and join us in celebrating their 10th anniversary!!! There’s great comfort food, some Italian ice, and live music coming up! And I’ll be here having fun too, aprt from spreading the gospel of in case that matters, lol! Happy weekend everyone!!!

10/12/2022

In July 2015, we moved from PA down here to the central Shenandoah Valley. Our move in day was hectic, as expected, but we found a food truck on that day (in the picture below) who served my family our first hot meal in Hburg, along with an unofficial warm welcome to the valley. Little did we know, Kathleen and Grilled Cheese Mania would have a special place in our hearts and lives for years to come. Both Jesy and our son worked at GCM's grill for a time, with one of their seasonal sandwiches even getting named after her🙂. Fast forward to 2022, GCM is celebrating their 10th yr, while Fermata DPC is celebrating its FIRST! I'm more than happy and honored to join their celebration this Saturday! Feel free to drop by GCM's parking lot on Oct 15, 1-5 pm, to celebrate people and places dedicated to serving our local community! You can also drop by my tent to learn more about while you're at it! 😁✌️❤️

A membership based family practice that values the doctor patient relationship at the center of care

10/06/2022

It’s official! Starting November, I’ll be seeing patients in Harrisonburg on Tuesdays and Fridays! My Staunton location will continue to operate regularly during the rest of the week. Thank you to the ladies of McCain Whole Health Care, PLC for sharing your space with Fermata DPC! Harrisonburg peeps, spread the word! Better healthcare is REAL — it’s here, it’s accessible, AND it’s affordable 😁 Exciting times!